By Professor John Robertson OBA

In the Guardian today:

The [UK] government has cut millions of pounds in funding for victims’ services, prompting warnings that “criminals will go unpunished” unless it urgently changes its position.

The Victims’ Commissioner has written a letter to chancellor Rachel Reeves, shared exclusively with the Observer, saying a combination of funding reductions and the upcoming employers’ national insurance increase was creating an “existential crisis” for charities. The commissioner and charities in the sector are calling for an urgent funding increase in the next spending review, which concludes this spring.

“These crucial services ensure victims have the support they need to recover from crime and stay engaged in the pursuit of justice,” Baroness Helen Newlove wrote.

From the Scottish Government on 11 February 2025:

More than 100 organisations across Scotland working to tackle violence against women and girls will share in a funding uplift of £2.4 million. The funding boost will bring the total Scottish Government investment in Delivering Equally Safe, which funds projects to prevent violence and support survivors, up to £21.6 million for the year ahead subject to the 2025-26 Budget being approved.

From the Scottish Government in March 2022:

Organisations which support victims and survivors of crime across Scotland are set to benefit from £48m of grant funding. More than 20 diverse organisations spread across the country are set to benefit from the new Victim Centred Approach Fund over the 2022-25 period.

They include Central Advocacy Partners which is receiving £167k to support its work with victims with learning disabilities and autism. Victim Support Scotland is receiving just over £18m and organisations supporting women and girls, trafficking victims and people from ethnic minorities are also to benefit.

Now that we’ve done the research for them, do you think the Scottish media could write up something informative for their readers and viewers?

Sources:

1. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/02/criminals-unpunished-victim-services-cuts-reeves
2. https://www.gov.scot/news/funding-boost-to-tackle-gender-based-violence/#:~:text=The%20funding%20boost%20will%20bring%20the%20total%20Scottish,ahead%20subject%20to%20the%202025-26%20Budget%20being%20approved.
3. https://www.gov.scot/news/victims-will-benefit-from-key-support/#:~:text=Organisations%20which%20support%20victims%20and%20survivors%20of%20crime,Victim%20Centred%20Approach%20Fund%20over%20the%202022-25%20period.

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